Pakistan supports peaceful rise of China: Mushahid

ISLAMABAD - Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Pakistan always welcomed the peaceful rise of China since it is a source of strength and security for small and medium-sized countries in Asia, particularly neighbours like Pakistan.He said that now with regional economic cooperation, a 'Greater South Asia is emerging' which apart from the seven states of the South Asian sub-continent includes China, Myanmar, Iran and Afghanistan. In a statement issued here on Friday, Mushahid added that a stronger and multifaceted partnership to further promote people-to-people contacts would be a force multiplier for Pakistan-China relations. He expressed these views while talking to a four-member delegation of Gansu Association for International Friendly Contact (GAIFC), led by its Vice President, Liu Guangjun, here at the Pakistan-China Institute."Those who talk of the 'China threat' or 'containment of China' are enemies of peace in Asia," Mushahid stated.He also said that China has to play a more active role to promote regional peace, especially in Afghanistan, and economic growth and prosperity through trade and investment.Mushahid also briefed the participants about the recent visit of Chinese journalists to the Parliament House, and informed that a trilateral conference will be jointly organised by China's Xinhua news agency and Pakistan-China Institute this year in June in Hong Kong by inviting journalists, politicians, academia and experts from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss the emerging new scenario in Afghanistan and the region.Liu Guangjun, leader of the Chinese delegation, appreciated the candid approach of Chairman Pakistan-China Institute about regional issues and informed that he has visited Pakistan for many times and has made his own contributions to strengthen the Pak-China friendship.Talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Mushahid said that the post-2014 scenario is highly important for neighbouring countries and the US should not repeat mistakes of the past.